Hearts of Grey Read online

  “Well, that’s good. Not that I wouldn’t want to have some someday, but like I said, ‘never thought about it, is all,” he told him.

  “Good. So tell me, Did ya really think I was going to jump to that tree or what?” Grady asked him.

  “Yeah, I did. I really did,” Mike told him with a smile.

  Hurt and Brokenhearted

  Susie’s dad came in from another boring day at the Bank of Savannah where he had worked for the past twenty-two years. Normally, he would never work on a Sunday, but this was a very special deal that needed some final touches to close. So for a few hours, he had agreed to work. So like every other day, he walked up behind his wife and gave her a hug and a kiss on the neck. And like every other day, he asked her the same question, “Why don’t we sell everything and just move to Alaska?”

  And like always, his wife would reply with the same old answer, “Because you don’t like the snow, and we don’t have anything worth selling.”

  And today was no different except for what his wife said afterward. “Honey, I think you really need to go see your daughter. She came in about an hour or so ago, slamming the screen door and crying. She’s been up there in her room ever since,” she told him.

  “So what’s the problem this time?” he asked.

  “I don’t know. I’ve tried to talk to her, but she keeps telling me that her life is ruined. So you know what that means, don’t ya?” she asked.

  “Yep, same thing as every other time—boys! Okay, I’ll go see if I can’t pull another magical solution out of my hat and see if that does the trick. After all, I’m Daddy, and it’s all part of the job title,” he said as he headed up the stairs. Standing in front of her bedroom door, he took a deep breath before he knocked. “Susie dear, it’s Daddy, Can I come in?’ he asked.

  “Go away. My whole life is ruined,” she answered.

  “Now, Susie dear, I’m coming in, okay? We can talk you through this. We always do, right? So I’m coming in, okay?” he told her as he slowly opened the door to her room. Susie was still wearing the dress that she had been wearing at the soda fountain just a few hours earlier. He sat down on the bed next to her. She had her face buried into the pillow.

  “So you want to tell me what’s going on, pumpkin? You’re still my pumpkin, ain’t ya?” he asked her.

  “Everything is ruined, Daddy, all because of some new girl. She took what was supposed to be mine, Daddy,” she told him.

  “I take it that we’re talking about Mike again. Am I right?” he asked.

  “Yeah, we were supposed to be married and have a family, but now he’s given her his grandmother’s ring. I hate her, Daddy. I just hate her,” she proclaimed.

  “Now, Susie dear, hate is a very harsh word. You know that I don’t like that word, never have, never will,” he told her.

  “Well, I’m sorry, but I really hate her. I really do. I wish she had never moved here in the first place,” she continued.

  “Excuse me, who is she? Does she have a name? I find it easier to talk about someone if you know their name,” he replied.

  “Katie! Ms. Goody Two-Shoes. Miss Katie Windslow, the little witch,” she told him.

  “Windslow? I don’t recall anybody living here by that name. And trust me, I know everyone in this town. But go ahead. Tell me what happened,” he told her.

  “We went to the movie house, just her and me. And then Mike showed up, and the rest is history. And now she’s wearing his ring. My life is ruined,” she told him as she started crying again.

  “Well, here’s the same question that I’ve asked you time and time again. Your plans on being with Mike, is that your dream, or is it real? You think about it. Did you two ever talk about getting married, or is this something that’s just in your head?’ he asked her.

  “Well, we never talked about it, but I want it, Daddy,” she told him.

  “Honey, this has been going on for years, hasn’t it? Your hidden crush on Michael. I remember way back when you were eight or nine, and we had this talk for the very first time. You remember that?” he asked.

  “Yeah, but nothing has changed, Daddy,” she told him.

  “Well, apparently it has. Maybe not to you, but for him it has. You know that love is a very funny thing. You can love anyone you want to, but you can’t make anyone love you back. It’s just the luck of the draw, sweetheart. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose,” he explained to her.

  “But it isn’t fair, Daddy. I’ve loved him first, then this little tramp shows up and ruins everything,” she explained to him.

  “Look, dear, nobody ever told you life was fair. And love is worse. It’s a great feeling to be in love. Just look at me and your mama. We love each other, don’t we? But did you know that I almost married someone else? Yep, Rita Tubbleweyer. But I didn’t, and now, I’m married to your mama. Love is strange,” he told her.

  “Rita Tubbleweyer? That’s a weird name. That would have made me Susie Tubblemeyer!” she proclaimed.

  “Well, it didn’t happen, but you’re missing the bigger picture here. There’s more fish in the sea, dear. Why settle for a minnow when you can have a big-mouth bass? You’re so young, and you have your whole life in front of you. I think it’s time that you move on,” he told her.

  “But, Daddy, I really love him. I really do. It’s just not fair,” she told him again.

  “Well, here’s the question that you have to ask yourself. And you alone must decide on which answer you take. If you truly like this guy, would you rather have him as a close and dear friend or not have him at all? And as far as this Katie girl goes, you can make her jealous and get her mad, or you can be her friend,” he told her.

  “Make her jealous? How do I do that?” she asked.

  “Well, maybe jealous ain’t the right word. But let’s say that you were to go out and get yourself a different boyfriend. And then you can stand there with your head held high and make her jealous of you in that way. Most girls hate it when another girl is happier than they are,” he explained.

  “Really? Hhmmm, that just might work. So if I were to go out a get another boyfriend, I could make Michael jealous. Thanks, Daddy, you’re the greatest,” she said as she hugged his neck.

  “Now, Susie, that’s not what I said, not at all,” he told her.

  “I know, Daddy, but I like my idea better. Thanks, Daddy,” she said as she got up and ran from her room.

  He just sat there speechless as he heard her run down the stairs and out of the front screen door. He slowly walked down the stairs where he met his wife.

  “So I see that you fixed everything once more,” she told him.

  “I’m not sure what just happened, but I do believe that I might have made things even worse,” he said as he stood there with an empty look on his face. “I think that there might be a storm brewing, a very nasty storm indeed.”

  He slowly explained what was said, and when he finished, they just stared at each other.

  “Oh my! This really doesn’t look too promising at all, does it?” she slowly told him.

  “No, dear, it certainly doesn’t,” he answered.

  A Promise Is a Promise

  Katie filled her daddy in on all of the details of the day, especially the part about Michael’s sister, Melissa, and her homecoming on Tuesday. But she left out the part about the kissin’ and losing her shoe. After all, daddies don’t need to know everything.

  “A sister you say? So how long has she been away?” Grady asked.

  “I think just around a year or so,” Mike answered.

  “A year? Hmmm, sounds like it might be a good reason for an old-fashioned barbeque if you ask me. Hell, we can throw your sister one hell of a homecoming party,” Grady told him.

  “That’s a great idea, Daddy. We could invite everyone, and you can dust off our old banjos, an’ we could have a real southern hold down,” Katie added.

  “Well, that all sounds great, but I’ll have to check it out with my parents first just in
case they’re planning something. Katie, you play a banjo?” he asked.

  “A little,” she answered.

  “A little? Don’t you believe her, son? My little girl can hold her own against some of the best. Not too bad on the piano and guitar too,” Grady added.

  “Really? Well, I’m pretty good on the banjo and the guitar as well,” Mike added.

  “Great, so you two can battle it out against each other. Nothin’ personal, son, but my money is on Katie,” Grady added.

  “Well, it wouldn’t be a battle, more like a union of our talents,” Mike answered.

  “Michael, now you’re not backing out of a challenge, are ya?” Grady asked.

  “Well, no, but if Katie wants to go head-to-head, then I am game too,” he replied.

  “Michael, I accept your challenge,” Katie answered.

  “Wait a second, I didn’t challenge you. You challenged me,” Mike replied.

  “Daddy, doesn’t it sound like he’s backing out?” Katie asked. Sure does to me.”

  “Does to me too, I reckon. I’ve heard people backing out before, and that’s what it sounded like back then and still sounds the same today,” Grady responded.

  “Okay, okay, you win. If you want a challenge, then a challenge is what you’ve got. Just don’t go getting your feelings all bent out of place when I put you to shame,” Mike told her.

  “Likewise. Oh, this is going to be good. I just hope you’re as good as you think you are,” Katie told him.

  “Think? Oh, darling, are you in store for a lesson or two. I’m good, but we’ll see what we shall see, won’t we?” he told her with a hint of confidence in his voice.

  “All right, you two. Knock it off. This is about Mike’s sister coming home, not a war between the two of you. So talk to your parents, Michael. We don’t have that much time to set all of this up and send out the invitations. But we’ll hold it here, over there in that large grassy area. I’ve got one hell of a recipe for some really good southern fried chicken and a barbeque sauce that will curl your toes and make your eyes water,” Grady proclaimed with a sense of pride to his voice.

  “Oh, Daddy, you and your famous sauce. That stuff is some downright good fixin’s,” Katie added.

  “All right then. I’ll go check with my parents, but they would have told me by now if they had any other plans,” Mike explained.

  “Well, you’re welcome to use that thing—what’s it called? Oh, yeah, the telephone if you can figure it out. I never liked all of this new stuff springin’ up all over the place. I reckon I’ll get by just as I’ve always have without it,” Grady told him.

  “Oh, Daddy, you’re behind the times. It’s 1955, Daddy. Things are changing,” Katie told him.

  “Well, you younger kids might like all of the new age stuff. As for me, I’ve gotten along all this time without it, so I reckon I’ll do just as well without all of it. Can’t miss what you’ve never had. That’s the way that I figure it,” Grady told them.

  “Okay, Grady, I’ll use your phone if Katie can show me where it is,” Mike told.

  “Come on, Mike, I’ll show it to ya. Follow me,” she said as she entered the house. Mike soon followed her inside. Grady just sat on the porch drinking his tea.

  Whatever Mike was expecting to see when he entered the house, it wasn’t anywhere near what he saw. What used to be a grimy, beaten-up house was now gleaming with polished woodwork, mahogany banisters, and crystal chandeliers.

  “Wow, would you look at this place! This is fantastic. You guys did all of this all by yourselves?” Mike asked.

  “I told ya my daddy was really good at fixin’ things,” she told him.

  “Yeah, but this is unbelievable. You can even smell the fresh wood. This is great,” Mike told her.

  “Here’s the phone, Mike. I’ll wait for you outside with Daddy,” she said as she went outside.

  Katie went outside and sat down next to Grady.

  “So have you told him about our little secret?” Grady asked her.

  “Oh, no, Daddy. I haven’t told him anything, but I want to. But that would mean that I would have to tell him everything, and that I’m not prepared to do, at least not yet,” she told her dad.

  “Well, here’s a little something. A secret is only a secret until you tell someone, but if the truth was to come out from anyone other than you, the damages could prove to be dangerous to the relationship that you two have,” he explained to her.

  “So are you telling me that I should tell him the truth?” she asked.

  “No, but I reckon since his family is a part of this, I think it might be to your benefit to let him in on it,” he explained.

  “But what if we don’t find what we’re looking for, then what?” she asked.

  “Well, I have to believe that it is here. The documents tell us it’s here. But there’s over twenty acres of land to search through, not to mention this giant house. Hell, darling, it could be anywhere,” he told her.

  “But anywhere doesn’t help us find what we’re looking for. If we do find it, and it’s what you say it is, then we’re heroes. But what if it isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be, Daddy, then what?” she asked.

  “You’re asking questions that I just can’t answer. I really wish that I had all of the answers, but I don’t,” he explained to her.

  “But what happens to us, Mike and me, if he finds out who I really am? And it’s all for nothing. The last thing that I want to do is to hurt him, Daddy. He’s so special,” Katie explained.

  “I know, he seems like such a nice boy too. I reckon we’ll just have to deal with it as it happens then,” he told her as Mike came out of the house.

  “Grady, I have to say that I am very impressed with what you’ve done to this house. The interior is simply breathtaking. How did you do all of it?” he asked.

  “Well, son, I’ve always been gifted with my hands, add to that what free time I have, and it all starts falling into place. You like it, do ya?” he asked.

  “Oh, yeah! I used to play in this house when I was a kid, but I never knew it used to look like this. Who knew?” Mike asked.

  “Like I told you before, this house used to be special, and someday it will be again. There’s a lot of history in this old house. Some of it hasn’t even been written yet. So what did your parents say?” he asked.

  “Oh yeah, I’m sorry. They said that it was a great idea, and they’ve offered any help that we might need, especially food. My ma loves to cook,” he added.

  “Great! Tomorrow I’ll set everything up. What time on Tuesday?” Grady asked.

  “What time? Oh, you mean what time my sister’s train comes in? I think it’s ten or ten-thirty Tuesday morning,” Mike told him.

  “Fine. You and Katie do the invites, and I’ll handle the rest. You wouldn’t know where I could get my hands on a bunch of tables and chairs, would ya?” Grady asked.

  “Yeah, I do I think the church has some that we can use. I’ll talk to Father Mathews, and I’ll let you know, okay?” Mike told him.

  “Okay, I reckon that will work out just fine then,” Grady told him.

  “But right now, I really think I should be going. It’s getting late, and I wouldn’t want to miss dinner,” Mike added.

  “Mike, I’ll walk you to the gate. Is that okay, Daddy?’ she asked.

  “I reckon that would be fine. I’ll be seeing you, son,” Grady told Mike.

  “Yes, sir, I truly think you will. Good day to you, sir,” he added as he started walking toward the gate with Katie at his side.

  “Michael, I want you to know that I had a wonderful day today, the best day that I can recall having in a long time. I just wanted to say thank you for everything,” she told him as they walked toward the gate.

  “No, thank you. You make it all possible,” he replied.

  “But before you leave, do you think you can do me one little favor? Please?” she asked.

  “Sure. For you, anything,” he answered back.

>   “Let’s see if you can knock off the other shoe!” she asked with a smile.

  “Well, gee, I don’t know. Your daddy might be watching us still,” he replied.

  “Michael, I ain’t a little girl anymore. I’m almost twenty-one, so go ahead and kiss me,” she demanded.

  “Katie, one look at you, and I know that you’re not a little girl anymore. In fact, what I see is a beautiful young lady that is both stunning and captivating while still retaining that certain element of a true southern belle. You’re anything but a little girl,” he told her.

  “Well, thank you, my good sir, but I’m not out to win a beauty contest. All I want is a gosh darn kiss, so kiss me already,” she pleaded.

  “Well, the problem with that is you see, I’m a guy and you’re truly a lady, and when I hold you tight, especially in a passionate kiss, something tells me to treat you as you are, a lady. But there’s another part of me that tells me to grab you and sweep you off of your feet and make you mine, if you know what I mean,” he tried to explain to her.

  “Really? So your animal instincts are raging from within, are they? Very interesting, but all I’m asking for right here and now is a kiss. So kiss me already. And I can understand your hidden desires too, Michael. I mean, after all, I’m a woman that has those same hidden desires raging inside of her. And while I can truly appreciate you fighting those manly urges as you try to remain a gentleman, sometimes it’s not worth the fight. So kiss me and follow your heart,” she told him.

  Michael didn’t say anything else as he pulled her into him. As their lips met, her firm body pressed tightly against his. And without thinking twice, both of his hands slipped down to her nice, firm buttocks and lifted her up to meet him. She gave out a slight moan, but it appeared that she was rather enjoying it as well as one of her feet came up off of the ground as she pulled him tighter into her as well. It was truly the kiss of all kisses.

  As he slowly released her and their lips parted, she opened her eyes. “Now that, my dear Michael, is exactly what I wanted. Oh my god, you’re a great kisser,” she said as she looked down and laughed. “Look I’m still fully dressed. You’ll need to work on that.”